Chapter 5, Problem 45QP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The statement of Hess’s law is to be written and its usefulness, with an example, is to be explained.

Concept Introduction:

Path independent functions are the functions that depend only upon the initial and the final state of the system but not upon the path or the number of steps involved in the given reaction, or in any chemical process.

Because enthalpy is a state function, the change in enthalpy that occurs when reactants are converted to products in a reaction is the same whether the reaction takes place in one step or in a series of steps.